Coop



DCC. 1931. Q F. CARPENTER COOP Filed Nov. 27., 192sA v Patented Dec. 29, 1931 N UNITED "Sife'flf'Eiga osn r.. CARPENTER, or BRIGII'rWooD, VIRGINIA scoor Application ilefl November 27,1928. Serial No. 322,216.

This .invention Vrelates tocoops designed primarily for enclosing or housiu'gxfow'l's, but

ance'with this invention may beemployed for any purposes for which `it is-found` applicable,-

and the invention hasv for its object tol provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth a structure of the class referred'lto'including a door to enable'entrance thereto and further with means permanently acting to maintain the door iii-closed position thereby preventing the accidental shifting of the door on its hingeA to open position if the door is unlatched.`-

A further object ofthe invention is toprovide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, la

structure of the-class referred to'including.

a hinged door andmeans to prevent'the free movement thereof from closed position.

` A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth', a structureof the class referred to including a door, a hinged rod forthe latter and means to prevent the door, in caseofwarping from-- binding on the rodthereby'permittingoftheV and shifted toand door to be easily swung from `closed position. f- Y Y I A further obj ect of the invention is to pro` vide, in a'manner as hereinafter set forth, a

' structure of the class referred to including a door opening, `a door Vfor closingan'dof less width than the width of the opening, a'hmged rod forthe door, a coiledjcontrolling spring permanently acting to "maintainthe door in,

closed position, and with one ofthe`walls of the door opening and the Idoor having` op-V posed sockets for the housingof the end por tion ofthe spring thereby permitting of the employment of a spring. of increased length` ployed for entering'the door transversely ofV the latter. j

Further objeets-of the invention are to pro-j vide, in a manneras hereinafterrset forthf'a` y coop structure which is-simple in `its construcl`-552 tion and arrangement, strong,durable, comfpact, thoroughly'eficient lin its use, readily assembled, and comparatively ini-ixpensivetov manufacture. i Q

With the foregoing and`` other objects'ini View the invention consists ofthe novel'construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically de-` scribed, and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of 65- the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andr modications can be resorted to which fall 'withinthescope of the' claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings whereinV like reference 70" characters denote y corresponding parts 1 throughoutthe several views:

Figurel is a top plan view, partly in section of acoop in accordance with this invention.

VFigure 2 is a fragmentaryviewtaken on 75` line 2--2 of Figure lV of the'top.

Figure 3 is a sectiontaken on line S-S'fFig ure 1.

Figure 4 is afragmentary 'view in'perspective of the crate. l

Figure is a fragmentary-view inperspective illustratingV the interlocking or interenf` gaging of the slats. Y A

Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating a modif fied form of door. 85

The coop includes'a topv frame formedV of` side members l, 2, end members 3, 4, `and spacechlengthwise disposed combined brace, ing and supporting bars-5, 6 having their ends abutting A secured to the 'end bars 3, 4. y

The side members 1,'2are formedwith,` spaced, vertically disposed sockets 7 `and spaced, horizontally disposedjsockets 8; The

sockets 7 open at the lower faces ofA said 95" members 1, 2 and the sockets 8 openatthe inner faces of members l, 2. Each socket `'l' in proximityto its upper end is intersected by a socket 8 adjacent the inner end of the-- latter. Each ofl the endv members is pro-100 against the inner Vfaces of and 90I flength of the slats 13, 14. The slats 1G cor- 55 L14 have one end thereof mounted in the sock 4is in the form of a cylindrical rod.

vided with vertically disposed, spaced sockets 9. The bars 5, 6 are provided with horizontally disposed, spaced bores or openings 10, 11 respectively. The bores 10 are arranged in alignment with the bores 11 and with the horizontal sockets 8 in the member 1. The bores 10, 11 correspond in contour to horizontal slats to be presently referred to. The horizontal sockets 8 in the member 2 are arranged in alignment with the bores 11. There is a permanent tongue and groove connection between the frame members at the ends thereof and which is indicated at 12. Each corner of the frame is provided with a vertically disposed opening 13 for a purpose to be presently referred to.

The top of the coop is provided by the top frame bars 5 and G and four sets of slats. The slats are horizontally disposed and each slat The slats of one set are indicated at 13, another set at 14, another set at 15 and the other set at 1G. The set of slats 15 oppose the set of slats 16 in spaced relation.

One of the slats 13, has a portion thereoi` indicated at 17 providing a hinge rod for one end of a door to be presently referred to. One of the slats 1G, has a portion thereof indicated at 18 providing` a latch for the door and one of the slats 14 has a portion thereof, as indicated at 19 providing an abutment for the non-hinged end of the door. The slats 13 are of the same length as the slats 14. The slats 15 are'of less length than the respond in length to the length of the slats 15 with the exception of that slat 16 which provides the latch 18 for the door and said slat is of greater length than the remainder ,.10 of the slats 1G, as well as the slats 15, but of less length than slats 13, 14.

'Each of the slats 13 in proximity to each end thereof and each of the slats 1.4 in proximity to each end thereof is formed with a .155;transverse groove 2O which when the slats are in position is disposed vertically. The outer end of each ofthe'slats 15 and each of the slats 16 is formed with a"transverscl groove 21 which when said slats are in posesition are disposed vertically. 'The slats 13 have one end thereof anchored in the sockets 8 formed in the trame member 1 and the other endsthereof mounted in the sockets 3 formed in the frame member 2. The slats ets 8 formed in the frame member 1 and the other ends thereof mounted in the sockets 8 formed inthe frame member 2. The slats 15 and 1G are arranged between the slats 13 and 14'and said slats 15 have their outer ends arranged in the sockets 8 of the frame member land their inner ends arranged in certain of the bores 10 formed in the bar 5. The slats 1G have their outer ends arranged in sockets 8 formed in the frame member 2 and their inner ends in certain of the bores 11 formed in bar 6. That slat having the latch 18 extends inwardly from the bar 6. The slats 13 and 14 extend through certain of the opposed bores 10, 11 formed in the bars 5, 6.

The top of the coop is formed with a door opening 22 having a pair of opposed walls thereof provided by opposed portions 23 of the bars 5, 6, another wall thereof provided by the hinge rod 17 and the remaining wall thereof by the abutment 19. The latch 18 projects into the door opening 22. The bar 5 is formed with a horizontally disposed socket 24 which opens at the inner side face of bar 5 at the hinge rod 17.

The door for closing the opening 22 consists of a rectangular body portion 25 provided at o-ne end witha horizontally disposed, channel, bore, passage or opening 26 which communicates at one end with a horithe end provided with the opening 26 1s rab- 5"l beted as at 27 to provide a shoulder 28. The length of the body portion 25 is greater and its Width is less than the length and width respectively of the' opening 22. The body portion 25 on that side edge opposite the side 5f edge provided with the socket 26 is formed with an oppositely disposed socket 29 opening outwardly. Thebody portion 25 intermediate its end is also provided with a fingerhole 30 and an aperture 31 spaced from each other. The body portion 25 is slidably mounted on the hinge rod 17 and abutment 19. The socket 26 opposes the socket 24. The socket 29 is adapted to receive the latch 18. The aperture 31 is provided for connecting a seal to the top of the coop and to the door. The opening 30 facilitates the shifting of the door from latched position on the hinge rod and abutment.

The door has associated therewith a coiled sie door against the bar G when the door is out of engagement with the latch 18, under such conditions the spring 32 functions to permanently maintain the door in closed position with respect to the opening 22, and also prevents the free shifting of the door on the hinge rod. The providing of the bar 5 and the door 25 with the sockets 24, 26 respectively enables for the employment of a coiled spring of greater length than the springs heretofore used for this purpose, whereby a spring of greater strength can be utilized for Each cornerf brace is formed :Eromfza rec the purpose of normally tending to maintain the door in closed position, whether the door be latchedV to or released from its latching means. An advantage of the employment of the socket 26 is that the base ofthe latter` maintains the end of the coiled spring 32 at all times clear of the inner end of opening 26, thus making it unnecessary touse a metal washer to prevent the point or end of spring 32 from entering the opening 26 at the inner end of the latter, which oth-erwise would cause the door to jamb on its hinge rod. A

The coop further includes a bottom'frame 32 of the same contour and size as the top frame and the end and side frame members of the frame 32 are provided with vertically disposed sockets 33 opening at the upper face of such frame members andA arranged in alignment with the vertical sockets, formed in the frame members of the top` frame. Each corner of the bottom frame is provided with a vertical socket 34 which aligns with a corner opening 13.

The coop is formed with slatted sides, each side consisting of a series of spaced slats and with each slat Vin the form of a cylindrical rod. The slats forming the sides of the coop are indicated at 35. Each end of the coo-p is slatted and formed froma series of spaced slats each in the form of a cylindrical rod and the end slats are indicated at 36. 'Each side slat and each end slatv has its upper portion seatedin a groove formedy in the top slats. See Figure 5.

The extending of the eide and end slats in the grooves in the top slats anchor the slats together within the framemembers of the top frame. The side and end slats extend into the vertical sockets of the side and end members of the top frame and into the vertical sockets 33 in the bottom frame.V Extending through the ropenings13and engaging in the sockets 34 are corner rods or tie bars 37 provided at the upper ends thereof with heads 38. The corner rods or tie bars 37 also pass through apertures formed in the body portions of corner braces Ito be presently referred to.-

A reinforcing brace is provided for each corner of the top frame and also for each corner of the bottom frame. The Vcorner braces for the top frame are illustrated as oppositely disposed withrespect to the corner braces for the bottom frame, but it is to beV understood that the top and bottom corner braces can be arrangedin a like manner( Asl shown, by way of example the corner braces for the top frame are secured tothe lower face of the latter and the corner braces for the bottom frame are secured to the upper face of the latter. `As the corner braces are of like construction, but one will be described as the description of one will apply to theV other.

tangular piece ofsheet metal and comprises an-apertured :triangular shaped body portion e 39, a pair of oppositely. disposed, spaced` arms c 40, 41 which .extend .at an.- angle ifrom..y the `outersides of thefbody portion 39and-a1rA inturned, triangular shaped flange 42? at the outer end-of eachA armnTheiange l42 `is has the armszthereof positioned against a side and an endmember ofa frame. s

Secured to the. lower face of the frame `32. 1.

is the bottom 44 of the crate. As illustrated byvfwayfof example` the body portion ofthe lower corner braces are arrangedagainst the corners of the bottom 44, but it isto beundei-, stood that such body portion can be .posi'.. tioned upon the upperl face xof the-lower: framef-I Preferably the bottonr44 has itsf' edges -lush kwith the outer vside faces of kthe frame members of `the lower frame 32..

-As the.corner rods or die -bars extend through the body portions of the corner braces when a 'corner rod receives a blow for any 'cause,=thecorner brace takes careof the-` resistance :directly thus offering c the fullest protection forvthewood.y t In the Vmodified form shownin Figure 6 the changeresides .in providing .thewdoor 46. Y

at onecorner ofits hingedend'with a cutout 47 providing an abutment48 for one end of the Vspring 32. Intermediate the hinged endf of thek door the latter is formedwitha cutout portion 49 providing a recess 50 and which: enables for the insertion of the linger `forthe purpose vofshifting the door, and said cutoutf4 portion 49further eliminates jany i tendency.

for. the door to bind on the hinge rod should'` the doorbecolne warped. The hinged end of door 46 is vformed fwith a pair of spaced,` horizontally disposed, aligning bores, 4chan-v nels or openings 51, 52. for mounting the door` YVon hinge.` rod 17 The openings 51, 52iare. spacedby the recess 50. Otherwise .than that as stated'the construction shown Vin Figure 6 is the samer as that showninFigure 1.

The main advantage in the employment` of the socketsy 24-and 261is toiallow the door 25 to shift on the hinge rod the full width ofthe space between the door and bar 5 thus allowing the latch 18 to be longer than would be possible without the use of sockets 24 and 26 where a coil Vspring is used for holding the door in latch position. This is a particular advantage in coops where the spacing betWeen the slats in the top must be close to prevent chickens from putting their heads through, which according to shipping regulations must not exceed- 1.. The latch 18 should be about 5?/4 to '7/8 long to prevent accidental opening While the coops are being handled.

It is thought the many advantages of a coop in accordance With this invention and for the purpose set forth can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodi ment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had Which fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In coop construction, a Wall provided With a door opening, a slidably and pivotally mounted door for partly closing said opening, one of the side Walls of said opening formed with a transverse socket opening at the inner face thereof, said door formed with a. bore and a counter-bore extending transversely thereof, said counter-bore opening at one end at one side edge of the door and opposing said socket, said bore opening at its inner end in the other end of the counterhore and at its outer end at the other side edge of the door, one of the end Walls of said door opening extending through said socket, counter-bore and bore and providing a pivot for the door, a controlling spring for normally spacing the door Jfrom that side Wall of the dooropening provided with the socket, and said spring encompassing said end Wall and of a length to permanently have an end terminal portion seating against the inner end of the socket and the inner end of the counter-bore, the diameter of the socket and the counter-bore being such to snugly fit the spring.

2. In coop construction, a door provided in proximity to one end thereof with a transverse bore and a transverse counterhore, the former opening at its inner end into the inner end of the latter, said counter-bore opening at one side edge and said bore opening at the ther side edge of the door, said counter-bore and bore providing for the passage of a rod to hinge the Vdoor in position, and said counter-bore providing a socket for the reception and of a diameter to snugly fit an end terminal portion of a controlling spring for the door.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

OSE E. CARPENTER. 

